Muscat: The Omani Ministry of Health has launched a maritime ambulance service in Khasab province in the Musandam governorate on Tuesday. This service is a one of its kind facility in Oman.
This service aims to provide medical referral of patients in the coastal areas, especially those in critical condition, to health institutions in a safe and quick way. Four boats will be operated in the coastal areas.
Musandam is an exclave of Oman surrounded by the Arabian Gulf to the west, the Strait of Hormuz to the north, the Sea of Oman to the east, and UAE territory to the south.
The service will help transport patients to hospitals in Khasab, Diba, Kumzar and Lima.
The ambulances are also equipped to deal with situations where adverse developments take place or health complications occur during the transport phase.
Boats and maritime ambulance contain integral medical equipment and medical staff to deal with transferred cases. They also contain interior air-conditioned cabinets with proper lighting, generator, refrigerator and toilet. The boat has two engines with a length of 12 metres and width of three metres and can bear loads of up to 6 tonnes.
The Ministry of Health will launch the maritime services in other coastal provinces in the coming months.
